The City of Lacombe is welcoming songwriter Adrian Nation for their annual Arts Endowment Fundraiser at St. Andrew’s United Church on Nov. 10th.
“That is a fund we use to grant monies to individuals in Lacombe and Lacombe County who want to pursue their education in the arts,” Executive Assistant for Community Services Maureen MacKenzie said. “We are hosting Adrian Nation, who is from Essex, U.K. He will be in concert Friday night and we will also have a silent auction and arts sale at the same time.”
The Arts Endowment Fund began around 10 years ago when a group of Lacombe residents wanted to find a way to support local artists. The fund was created to help local artists pay for their education. Since the fund is an endowment, the funds granted come from the interest gained on the principle invested funds.
“We have granted over $233,000 over the last 10 years,” MacKenzie said. “It can and has gone to people like high school students, regular citizens, painters, film makers, potters, singers, dancers - pretty much the whole realm of arts and culture.”
Artists of any age can apply for the grant starting at the beginning of each year and the funds are awarded at the start of April. The forms can be found on the City of Lacombe web site.
“To have a healthy community, you need to have a really good healthy mix of sports, arts and culture,” MacKenzie said. “Not everyone is a hockey player or a figure skater. It creates a nice balance and provides opportunities for everybody.”
MacKenzie was excited to bring Nation to Lacombe, who she has seen in concert before.
“Adrian is fantastic and this is his third Canadian tour,” she said. “He performs by himself and he is a guitar master. He has written all his own songs and they are based on personal experience.
“He recently launched his most recent CD Anarchy and Love and there is some Canadian content in it from his last two tours. He is phenomenal guitarist, lyricist and a really nice man.”
Tickets can be purchased either by calling the City of Lacombe at 403-782-6666 for $20 in advance, or tickets can be purchased at the door for $25.
“If you want to contribute to the Arts Endowment fund, you can bid on some of the silent auction items,” MacKenzie said. “We have a vintage guitar signed by KD Lang and we have another guitar signed by Adrian. We also have wonderful art as well. We will also have forms for people to make direct donations to the fund.”
She added, “It is going to be a great concert and he will pour every emotion out of your heart.”